Barack Obama quietly authorized pay raises to Vice President Biden, members of Congress, and federal judges, reports The Weekly Standard.
The Armed Forces have been graciously granted a 1.7% pay raise as well. As an example of what this largesse translates to in dollars and sense, a Marine Corps private will receive an increase of $24 a month, up from $1,379 in 2012 to $1,403 in 2013.
To put this raise in perspective, consider that a haircut typically costs a Marine $6. To stay in compliance with Corps grooming regulations most leathernecks have their hair cut at least one a week. The new authorized pay raise will thus offset the cost of a month’s worth of haircuts.
For The Head Honchos, Not So Much…
Raising questions about Obama’s seriousness in cutting federal spending, a senior Republican congressional aide is quoted as saying that pay raise will cost the American taxpayer $11 billion over the next 10 years.
The postings at the federal government’s official website for the Office of Personnel Management are as follows:
SCHEDULE 6–VICE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
(Effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning after March 27, 2013)
Vice President . . . $231,900
Senators . . . 174,900
Members of the House of Representatives. . . 174,900
Delegates to the House of Representatives. . . 174,900
Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico . . . 174,900
President pro tempore of the Senate. . . . 194,400
Majority leader and minority leader of the Senate. . . 194,400
Majority leader and minority leader of the House of Representatives . . . 194,400
Speaker of the House of Representatives. . . 224,600
SCHEDULE 7–JUDICIAL SALARIES
(Effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning after March 27, 2013)
Chief Justice of the United States . . . $223,500
Associate Justices of the Supreme Court. . . 213,900
Circuit Judges . . . 184,500
District Judges. . . 174,000
Judges of the Court of International Trade. . . 174,000
